The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-09-15
House. BUILT BY CAPT. U. s. GRANT wrrH HIS owS HANDS

smoldering embers still burning he probably
did not know it himself A 40-acre tract had
been given Mrs. Grant by her father, near the
old Dent homestead, and farming on that meant
the primitive agriculture of the frontier al
most. There was not only timber 10 clear away,
but a dwelling had TO be built and the house
depicted in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE's cut was
in great part built by Grant with his own
hands He tells the story well in few simple
words in his Memoirs"
." was now 10 commence" he says, "at the
age of 32, new struggle for our support. Ny
wife had farm near st. Louis, TO which we
went, but had no means 10 stockit. house
had 10 be built also. worked very hard, never
losing a day because of bad weather. and ac-
complished the object in a moderate way. If
nothing else could be done would load cord
OF wood on a wagon and take il 10 the city for
sale"
For four years Grant kept at this life of
dreary toll. He was not man who often sur
rendered, but after four years Of this unsuta-
bio occupation he acknowledged himself beaten,
gave up the farm, and in the Fall of 1855 NOV
ed into town. The old farmhouse still stands
much as Grant left it, and the members Of the
GAR. who desire TO visit il will find it only
short drive into the suburbs.
HE TRIES THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.
That Winter a new signboard, inscribed
"Boggs & Grant. Real Estate" told the occupa-
ton in which the retired soldier, unsuccessful
at farming. was now conrting fortunes favor
His partner was n cousin of Mrs. Grant. and
the story of their venture is best told again in
Grants own words He says in his Memoirs
"0ur business might have become prosperous
if had been able TO wait for il 10 grow. As il
was, there was no more than one person could at
tend TO, and not enough TO support two families"
One moro surrender followed. Later Grant
sought the place of County Surveyor, but three
Of the five County Commissioners voted for a
German citizen named Solomon, and Grant
again retired beaten. IL is somewhat interest
ing in this connection to learn that all three
Of these Commissioners were earnest loyalists
during the war. Very shortly after this Grant
left st. Louis, May, 1860 for Galena, Ill, where
his father was in business.
BACK IN THE ARMY AGAIN
One year later he was in st. Louis again, at
the taking of Camp Jackson May 10. 1861. He
had como down 10 muster in an Illinois regi-
ment, being then a volunteer assistant Of the
Acknowledgement OF that State. Being near 10
St. Louis he came over for a brief visit and it
is an interesting coincidence that Grant, Sher-
man and Schofeld were all in st. Louis on that
memorable day. Grant rode down TO the Arsenal
on the Fifth street railway, of which Sherman
was then President and Manager, saw Lyon
and Blair march out with their brigade of
Home Guards, aud was again on hand when
they came back with the captured State militia.
The next day he went TO MattOon. H., and
mustered in the 2lst ILL.,, of which he was ap-
pointed Colonel the following month. In after
life he made frequent visits to st. Louis but
they were always of brief duration. The old
farm remained in his possession, however. un-
I'll he was forced TO part with it during the
financial troubles which saddened the closing
years Of his life.